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Evaluating the public investment mix in US freight transportation infrastructure

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  • Gorman, Michael F.

Abstract

This research empirically evaluates the public sector investment in the US freight transportation infrastructure. In particular, the infrastructures to support the two most comparable modes of freight transportation - highway and intermodal rail - are examined as alternatives for public fund allocation. Indicators for public sector transportation infrastructure investment mix are established based on financial analysis of both private and social costs and benefits, as well as the propensity of freight shippers to utilize such infrastructures. The research results in recommendations for the aggregate allocation of public funds in the US based on these indicators. We find that approximately a quarter of truck freight could be handled at a 25% lower cost if rail infrastructure to support it existed. Because an additional 80% reduction in social costs could be achieved through this modal conversion, the public sector is a critical participant in creating a more efficient transportation infrastructure.

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  • Gorman, Michael F., 2008. "Evaluating the public investment mix in US freight transportation infrastructure," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 1-14, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:42:y:2008:i:1:p:1-14
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    Cited by:

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    2. Delucchi, Mark A. & McCubbin, Donald R., 2010. "External Costs of Transport in the U.S," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt13n8v8gq, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
    3. Berechman, Joseph, 2009. "Estimation of the full marginal costs of port related truck traffic," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 390-396, November.
    4. Mark Delucchi & Don McCubbin, 2011. "External Costs of Transport in the United States," Chapters, in: André de Palma & Robin Lindsey & Emile Quinet & Roger Vickerman (ed.), A Handbook of Transport Economics, chapter 15, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    5. Juan Du & Wenxin Wang & Xinghua Gao & Min Hu & Haili Jiang, 2023. "Sustainable Operations: A Systematic Operational Performance Evaluation Framework for Public–Private Partnership Transportation Infrastructure Projects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-26, May.
    6. Heatley, David, 2009. "The History and Future of Rail in New Zealand," Working Paper Series 4031, Victoria University of Wellington, The New Zealand Institute for the Study of Competition and Regulation.
    7. repec:vuw:vuwscr:19133 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Rowangould, Gregory, 2013. "Public financing of private freight rail infrastructure to reduce highway congestion: A case study of public policy and decision making in the United States," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 25-36.
    9. Tapiador, Francisco J. & Burckhart, Kerstin & Martí-Henneberg, Jordi, 2009. "Characterizing European high speed train stations using intermodal time and entropy metrics," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 43(2), pages 197-208, February.
    10. Heatley, David, 2009. "The History and Future of Rail in New Zealand," Working Paper Series 19133, Victoria University of Wellington, The New Zealand Institute for the Study of Competition and Regulation.
    11. Kishimoto, Paul N. & Zhang, Da & Zhang, Xiliang & Karplus, Valerie J., 2013. "Modeling regional transportation demand in China and the impacts of a national carbon constraint," Conference papers 332390, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    12. McIntosh, C.R. & Wilmot, N.A. & Skalberg, R.K., 2015. "Paying for harbor maintenance in the US: Options for moving past the Harbor Maintenance Tax," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 210-221.

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